The Swansea Canal Society was formed in 1981 and is run by volunteers. We became a registered charity in 2004.
The Canal is owned by the Canal and River Trust and we work closely in partnership with them.
The Swansea Canal is a two hundred and twenty year old structure of immense importance to the Lower Swansea Valley. It is no longer the sixteen mile industrial supply line from Abercraf to the city of Swansea, but the existing six miles in water are the home to otters and bats; kingfishers, dippers, and ducks; moths, butterflies and beetles. Many of its bridges, aqueducts and locks are listed buildings or scheduled ancient monuments and part of Swansea’s unique heritage. The canal’s mainly rural setting gives pleasure to walkers, cyclists, joggers, and runners alike. We have a linear water park that we should all be proud of and the SCS aims to improve that amenity for everyone’s benefit.
Our aims are:
To promote the heritage and history of the canal
To protect its wildlife
To restore the canal to navigable standards
To improve the canal environment for the health and benefit of all visitors.
Our hope is to make the Swansea Canal something the whole community can be proud of. This requires many more volunteers. If you are willing to help then we can find something you can do. We have many plans for the canal, including opening the piped sections at the old Highways Depot and Trebanos Playing Fields.
We have been running a successful Canoe Hire facility in Coed Gwilym Park each Sunday since April this year and have had many customers enjoying our canoes and kayaks. We have now closed the boat hire for winter, but will be opening again next year. In the meantime we will be operating a second work party on a one Sunday a month for those who cannot attend the week day work party..
Weekly work parties maintain, build and work along the Swansea Canal (Clydach to Ynysmeudwy)
